"Wine And Snow"
Part 2
by Beryll
oh my god, look what the cat dragged in
living my life sin after sin
Night rolls up and I do it again
oh my god look what the cat dragged in
No tell, motel, hotel, bed
if it wasn't for the sunlight
I'd swear I was dead
I got a girl on the left of me
a boy on the right
and I know damn well I slept with both last night
---Poison
The throne room of Lucifer, the great defiler, first fallen angel, enticer of humanity, prince of hell, master of deception, Lord over all that was foul and evil was unusually quiet. No souls, caught in endless throes of lust writhed on the shiny, black marble floor, no naked bodies moving to the rhythm of ecstasy could be seen in the endless mirrors that lined the walls, no poor sinners were begging at his feet for his exalted attention.
Even the light seemed somewhat subdued, the flames from the great fire-basins standing at intervals along the walls burning low.
The hall was empty except for his two constant companions. An Incubus called Harry chained to the right armrest of his throne and a succubus called Liv chained to the left. Both were of exceptional beauty.
Liv was tall and lean as a birch, her skin creamy white, contrasted by raven hair and eyes burning like gleaming coal. From her back rose wide wings of blood-red feather so soft they looked almost furry. She wore nothing except a pair of black spike-heels that came up to mid-thigh and a spiked leather collar around her neck, where the delicate silver chain from the throne ended.
Harry on the other side was her perfect contrast. Heavily muscled, exuding male strength and virility. He was deeply tanned and his black hair hung in wild tangled around his fierce face, giving him a somewhat savage look. His wings were blood-red as well, but leathery and ending in small crooked claws, matching the long talons on his naked feet. Just as his female counterpart, he was naked except for the beautifully wrought silver collar around his neck.
Both were trying very hard to distract the prince from his dark brooding, stroking themselves and each other, kissing, making low passionate sounds to win his attention. Their antics remained ignored. It is said that it is extremely difficult to show the prince of darkness something new and it definitely proved true in this case.
Lucifer himself was not quite sure what had made him ban the eternal party, that normally filled his home with endless laughter, moaning and – not forget – very loud music from his presence. A vague sense of trouble brewing without his involvement.
It rattled the number one trouble maker of all ages, that he could not quite pinpoint the source of this disruption in the delicate balance that existed between hell, earth and heaven. So he had crossed his long legs, clad in dark-red leather elegantly, rested his classical chin on his long-fingered hand and stared off into the twilight of war and pain that was earth these days.
Really, what was heaven thinking anyway to let things degrade to a point where even he felt more pity than contempt for the poor mortal souls who had to live in such conditions. He had always tried to make hell a sanctuary for those souls who were, just like himself, bored to death by the pristine beauty of white marble halls, empty except for the endless sound of angelic voices singing the laudation of god. To be stuck there – that was what he would call eternal punishment. Stuck in a ethereal body that could feel neither pleasure nor hunger nor thirst.
Well, the angels wanted hell to be a place of punishment. A place where they could send those who would just make trouble if they were allowed into heaven. Why they seriously excepted him, who had defied god, to actually take their orders was beyond him. He had made a cute little hell to their hearts delight where volunteer souls – mostly masochists – suffered for show. And the rest of hell was a private resort of the most luxurious and decadent kind. So much for following orders. It wasn't as if they had ever come down here to check on him anyway. Officially they were still at war.
With a sigh he leaned back in his grand throne. It was completely oversized and made of blackened iron, wrought in the form of beautiful bodies, entwined in the height of pleasure. It would have been jolly uncomfortable had there not been mounts and mounts of red velvet cushions, making it more a soft lair than a throne actually. There was enough room to invite one or more persons onto his lap.
He looked down, when he felt a tentative touch on his naked right foot. Liv had crawled up to him and was now licking his foot, caressing it with all the love and lust he knew she felt for him. She watched him for any sighs of anger at her audacious behavior but he smiled down at her benevolently. She always managed to cheer him up with her cute jokes and incredible dancing. But this time he could not shake his feeling of impeding doom.
Lucifer was about to gently push her back to Harry, who was crouching a few feet away, watching the succubus with unrestrained hunger in his eyes, when a vague shape materialized in the middle of the wide hall, growing more solid quickly and coalescing into Belial, sitting on the floor, holding his jaw. There was blood on his face and for once it was his own.
Interest mixed with a hint of worry on Lucifer's face while he watched his demon prince get up and slowly make his way over to the throne. Belial looked like he was feeling slightly dizzy and that was simply unheard of. At least since the great battle that had ended in the 'eviction' of the fallen angels from heaven.
Belial tried for a bow before his Lord but lost his precarious balance and instead knelt down before Lucifer. "My Lord, I bring news from earth," he announced in his best official voice.
The prince of hell beckoned him closer, then bend down to him and gently ran a thumb along his bleeding lips. The wound healed instantly at his touch but Lucifer was not able to quench the emotional pain he detected boiling behind the calm surface Belial presented.
"What happened?" he asked, now thoroughly intrigued.
"I had a little run-in with Michael." Belial explained, his expression rueful. "Must have gotten on his bad side again. We were just having a little chat and suddenly he was all fire-swordy..."
One of Lucifer's elegant eyebrows rose to meet his hairline. "Michael was on earth?"
Belial shrugged. "Yeah, that was the news I was going to tell you. He says heaven is getting involved in matters on earth again."
"Does he now...?" Lucifer stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I wonder what they plan to do? Try for another Flood? They can't really make it any worse for humankind, can they?"
"Maybe they will come down and do good?" Liv piped up. She had settled herself next to the throne and had listened curiously.
Belial and Lucifer both looked at her with genuine affection. She was still young, compared to both of them. She was one of the lesser demons who had been raised to their new state in afterlife by Lucifer. He firmly believed in the just promotion of those who had earned his grace.
"Dear, angels helping mortals is a thing of ancient legends and modern TV soaps." Belial explained with gentle patience. "They do help an elderly lady across the street now and then to keep up appearance, up generally they are all about punishment and judgment. There is a reason why in the grand reliefs in the halls of heaven each and every single one of them is depicted with some kind of weapon."
"Oh," Liv blushed and started plucking at her fluffy wings, obviously embarrassed.
"Don't worry, dear," Lucifer ruffled her dark hair affectionately, "I'm happy that you have never had to deal with one. Makes you just so much cuter."
He eyed Belial darkly. "Although your news might mean, that this will not stay so much longer."
A shadow passed the demon's face and Lucifer felt deep sympathy for his old friend and comrade. It was well known to him, what Belial as well as Asmodeus had been feeling for Michael, before he had cast them from the heavens. None of them had ever dared to tell the leader of the heavenly hosts about their indecent longings, but they had ever been obvious to Lucifer Lightbringer. It must have been hard for Belial, to have been struck by Michael yet again.
"We will have to wait and see what will come of this." Lucifer said slowly. He was about to say more, when he felt a strong ripple of power run through his realm. This kind of disruption could only stem from one source. A very unwelcome visitor.
The prince of hell didn't even need to extent his senses further to discern who had just entered hell. The fiery, searing white signature was more than clear.
"Go, tell Asmodeus what you have learned." he told Belial softly.
The demon's eyes were full of rebellion at this dismissal. "But that is..."
"I will deal with him. Now go. He will just make more trouble if he finds you here."
Belial nodded sullenly and dissolved into red mist that slowly drifted upward.
He had just disappeared, when the high portal leading into the throne room was shaken by a single loud knock. Lucifer didn't bother to sit up straighter in his throne and the person outside did not bother to wait for an answer. The portal flew open and bright silvery light flooded the hall. Liv and Harry quickly scrambled closer to the throne to seek protection with their master, but Lucifer watched in muted boredom as Michael strode in the room.
The archangel of war was bristling with light and crackling energy. He was carrying his burning sword naked in his right hand. His white wings were slightly spread and his gait was that of a predator ready to pounce. He knew he was far outside his territory and acted accordingly.
A light frown appeared on Lucifer's brow as he watched the angel approach. The naked feet of the heavenly creature left burning white marks on his prized dark marble floor. Not that it would be a major effort to repair the damage but it was just... impolite.
Liv and Harry were both snarling softly at the unbidden guest, when Michael came to stop a few feet from the throne, but he ignored them completely, his bright searing blue eyes fixed on the prince of hell.
'He behaves as if he owns the place', Lucifer thought with more than a little anger but on the outside he stayed completely calm.
"Where is Belial?" Michael asked without preamble.
Lucifer put on a bright smile. "My thoughts exactly. It's so nice to see you again. How have you been, dear friend? How's it hanging in heaven?"
Michael's wings flustered even more at this insult and his grip tightened around the hilt of his sword. "I will not ask again, damned one, where is Belial?"
Leaning back comfortably Lucifer's smile broadened. "I am sure that is none of your business, prissy one." he answered evenly. "And now leave my domain or suffer the consequences."
"You dare threaten me?!" The sword rose dangerously and burned even brighter.
Lucifer knew that the archangel was short of temper but right now he didn't feel any need to back down. "Better be careful, pal, I can see none of your heavenly hosts here right now, you are outnumbered. Do you really want a fight?"
He was almost surprised when Michael breathed deeply and obviously forced down his own anger. "Look, I only want to talk to him." he tried again and Lucifer would have been willing to relent, had he not seen the blood on Belial's lip and felt the pain in his heart.
"I think he has had enough of you for today." he said, softening his voice slightly.
For a long moment archangel and demon lord stared at each other, then Michael spun on his heel and strode out of the hall just as arrogantly as he had come.
Lucifer reached down to the head of Harry, that suddenly pressed against his knee, seeking comfort. "That went better than I had feared." he whispered, caressing the tangle mane of dark hair of his favorite incubus, enjoying the way Harry rubbed against him. He looked down at the incubus fondly. "Now let's get rid of some of this tension of yours, my cutie. Come to Daddy!"
If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Beryll
go to PART 3